Dog House

[Scarlet]

We tried to encourage our dogs to "enjoy" being in both the Day Den and subsequently the Barn byt always putting their feed & water bowls in there. They still choose not to use them, other than to eat their food there ... we decided we were mollycoddling them unnecessarily and decided to leave them to it. They've got shelter if they need it, they clearly don't think that they do!

I had my old dog Bob off a farm. He'd never been in a house,slept outside. He was around 6months when we got him and really wasn't interested in being indoors. He loved our porch...concrete floor, door always open(though I did put a bed in there with a blanket that he loved)...my OH works from home in a separate building, the dog lay outside the door in all weathers or he would watch me in the GH for hours lying outside in the rain. He was always fed in the house and came in during the winter evenings, we had a bed and a blanket for him inside but he usually made his way outside at bedtime and no coaxing would get him in. One winter during a cold spell, he was probably 8/9, he suddenly decided he was sleeping in and he never slept outside during the night again.

[Kristen]

The first Goldens we had slept out. It was a decent shed, soundly made and wind and weather proof, but there were many nights when I would have to break the ice in their water bowls when I took them out there at bedtime (late '70s early '80s, winters were colder back then!) But every evening, at the appointed hour, they would jump up and follow me down the garden wagging their tails ...

... took them to the vet to have their claws clipped once

"What's wrong with them then?" the vet asked

"Claws need clipping"

"Ah; I thought their coats looked well. I get little old ladies coming in telling me the hair is getting thin on their dog's back and what should they do about it? and I tell them: 'Turn your Aga off' "

[Scarlet]

"Ah; I thought their coats looked well. I get little old ladies coming in telling me the hair is getting thin on their dog's back and what should they do about it? and I tell them: 'Turn your Aga off' "

Oh dear, that's my new mans favourite spot!

[Scarlet]

Cheers VC you are a super star !

[veggiechicken]

...........Stan's a super dog - he needs to be the right way up

[Kristen]

Oh dear, that's my new mans favourite spot!

Mine sit so close to our open fire that their coats singe ... they would get IN it if they could!

[Mikey]

Well I built the inner skin yesterday, I've not taken any photos yet, so will add a sketch below. Sorry its only a doodle and not a scaled drawing....

Daughter decided she'd like a castle theme so there's a bit of work to be done for the outside. Also OH decided she didn't want herbs there but instead somewhere for the dogs towels to be stored so my bit of the plan was shelved too!!

I managed to get Max to go and investigate it yesterday by placing some bonio biscuits inside, he only fully stepped inside once the rest of the time he put front feet in took biscuit and retreated. We might be some time adjusting to this one!!

Spoilt dog, that's what he is!!!

[veggiechicken]

What about the drawbridge and machicolation?

[Mikey]

What about the drawbridge and machicolation?

No drawbridge......!

I had to look up the other one as I've never been one much for history, we have discussed using some flexi mdf though and creating some turrets on the corners. I thought we could either hang some brollies in there.

I had thought I could use them as a comfrey tube, or a prize winning carrot tube!! but, I don't think the missus would be too happy about having rotting matter near the outside dining area.

[Scarlet]

I managed to get Max to go and investigate it yesterday by placing some bonio biscuits inside, he only fully stepped inside once the rest of the time he put front feet in took biscuit and retreated. We might be some time adjusting to this one!

Perhaps you should make it twice as big...if the dog doesn't use it your little girl may use it as a play house? (Maybe she's not that little?)
I'm still trying to get my pup used to the crate in the car. I can get him in but he's too frightened to get back out and cowers in the back corner. Not sure why because the first photo I saw of him he was in a cage.

[veggiechicken]

You could use the turrets as water and biscuit dispensers. Like they have in rabbit hutches - although I don't know whether rabbits eat biscuits